Saturday, May 7, 2016

This past week a Los Angeles jury convicted Lonnie David Franklin Jr., known as the “Grim Sleeper,” of 10 counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder.

The trial—one of the more high profile cases in L.A. recently—lasted approximately 11 weeks in Los Angeles Superior Court. The jury deliberated for about a day and a half before returning its verdict.

Franklin was convicted of murdering nine women and a teenage girl over the past 30 years, with a 13-year gap between two periods of alleged killing sprees. Seven women were killed between 1985 and 1988, and three women between 2002 and 2007. DNA evidence recovered from the females also indicated Franklin had come into sexual contact with the women just before their deaths.

The moniker “Grim Sleeper” derives from the extended period of time between the two sets of killings. Franklin was known to primarily prey on vulnerable females - sex workers and those with substance abuse problems on the street.

Since being indicted in March 2011, the government is believed to have accumulated more evidence tying Franklin to additional killings.
The jury is scheduled to return on May 12 to begin the sentencing phase of the trial.

Ronald G. Brower is an experienced criminal defense attorney in Southern California. Based out of Orange County, Attorney Brower has practiced criminal defense for over 30 years and has represented individuals charged with the most serious crimes, including murder.

If you or someone you know has been charged with a crime, contact the Law Office of Ronald G. Brower online or at 714-997-4400.